The Togo goalkeeper, Kossi Agassa, who plays for the French club Istres, told France-Info radio today that the Togo assistant coach Abalo Ametele and press officer Stan Ocloo had died as well as the driver, while the striker Jonathan Ayite confirmed that the reserve-team goalkeeper Kodjovi Obilale had died of his injuries but there is some confusion about his condition. Eight other people also suffered injuries in the ambush.

It had been widely reported in the French media that Obilale had died but a statement from his club, the French team GSI Pontivy, read: "According to news given by coach Alain Le Dour and GSI Pontivy president Philippe Le Mestre, Kodjovi Obilale is not dead, despite the news reported on the internet, radio and television, and has been moved to South Africa."

But the Togo forward Ayite told French radio station RMC: "He [Obilale] is dead and even if you bring the president and even [US president Barack] Obama himself, we're leaving immediately, we're going back home. Ghana and the Ivory Coast are in solidarity with us."

The coach of Obilale's club - French amateur side Pontivy - Alain Le Dour added on L'Equipe: "We have been called to give us this news but we have not yet had it in an official manner. It is very difficult to have more precise information. Yesterday we didn't know where he took a bullet. We were told that he was successfully operated on and we talked about a transfer to South Africa. Officially we don't know any more."

Togo's midfielder Alaixys Romao confirmed the players were at the airport waiting to return home, and were also encouraging other teams to pull out of the competition. "We're waiting for the plane to return to Lome," the Grenoble player told L'Equipe.

"We're also talking to the other teams in our group to try to convince them to boycott the competition too." Togo were due to kick off their campaign against Ghana on Monday.

The Togo football federation's head of communication later suggested that the team had not withdrawn, however, claiming it would consult with the players before deciding whether to pull out. "We are going now to see and talk to the players and then make a decision whether or not we take part in the competition," said Messan Attelou.

Manchester City confirmed their striker Emmanuel Adebayor - the Togo captain - was returning home. "He is on his way back from Angola but we are not sure exactly where his flight is headed," said City spokesman Simon Heggie. "The lines of communication between the club and Emmanuel have been open all day, we have spoken to his advisors and his girlfriend and he is coming home."

Adebayor had earlier admitted in the aftermath of the attack that many of the squad's players wanted to go home. "I think a lot of players want to leave. I don't think they want to be at this tournament any more because they have seen their death already," he said. "Most of the players want to go back to their family. No one can sleep after what they have seen. They have seen one of their team-mates have a bullet in his body, who is crying, who is losing consciousness and everything."

Organisers have so far insisted the tournament will go ahead though Togo's coach, Hubert Velud, claimed the authorities should seriously consider whether to call off the whole tournament, although the Angolan authorities maintain that their country is committed to hosting a secure competition and said they would step up security.

"We can at least pose ourselves that question," Velud said. "It's an act of barbarism while we are here to celebrate African football. We left the hospital a short time ago to come to the centre for the teams in the competition. We stayed in the hospital a long time so that we could be very united.

"In these situations you become a bit paranoid, you doubt everything. We don't feel that the authorities are taking this very seriously. I don't mean that they want to hush up the matter, but almost."

Ivory Coast said they had no plans so far to quit the tournament. "For the moment, there is no decision to withdraw. It is a competition that has been planned by the Confederation of African Football and it will go ahead," said Anzouan Kacou, of the organising committee of the Ivorian Football Federation.

Kacou said the organisers were speaking to teams due to play in Angola's Cabinda region – Togo, Ivory Coast, Ghana and Burkina Faso. He made his comments before news that two members of the Togo delegation had died from wounds suffered in yesterday's attack.

Udinese confirmed they had asked for the return of their midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah, who is with the Ghana squad.

A statement from the Serie A club read: "Primarily to the physical protection of our player Kwadwo Asamoah, Udinese Calcio has asked the Ghana Football Association and FIFA for the immediate return of our player.

"It should also be stressed that the overall situation - in itself very disturbing - is made even more dangerous for Ghana as they play in the same group of Togo and consequently in the places where this very grave and cowardly attack on the Togo athletes took place."

The separatist group The Front for the Liberation of Enclave of Cabinda (FLEC), which were reported to have claimed responsibility for the attack, have now denied they carried it out.

A statement from the group read: "Le Front de Liberation de l'Enclave du Cabinda deny all responsibility for the criminal attack which the Republic of Togo, here to participate in the 2010 African Nations cup, fell victim to.

"We vigorously condemn this barbaric act and repeat their commitment to strive for dialogue, reconciliation and peace in Cabinda.

"Le Front de Liberation de l'Enclave du Cabinda call on the Angolese authorities to make every effort to arrest and bring to justice the backers and creators of this insane act.

"We support the continuation of the 2010 African Nations Cup at Cabinda. To that end they urge the authorities of the Republic of Angola to take every necessary measure of security for the smooth running and success of this great continental event which brings together all Africans.

"We would like to express their support to the whole delegation of the Togo team and share their deep sadness."

About this article

Togo withdraw from Africa Cup of Nations after deadly gun attack

This article was published on
the Guardian website
at 10.27 EST on Saturday 9 January 2010.
It was last modified at 14.01 EDT on Wednesday 11 June 2014.
It was first published at 08.15 EST on Saturday 9 January 2010.